Grechishchevite

Formula:  Hg3S2(Br,Cl,I)2

Origin of name:   For Oleg Grechishchev, Russian geologist

 

Crystal system:  Tetragonal

Crystal class:   -42m

Twinning:

Unit cell:

 

Colour:  Bright or dark orange, darkens to black

Diaphaneity:

Luster:  Vitreous to adamantine

Habit:  Miniute equant prims to slightly elongate grains to 0.2 mm, powdery masses and concretions of short prismatic crystals to 0.3 mm

Hardness:  2.5

Specific gravity:

Cleavage:  1; Distinct parallel to prism face

Tenacity:

Streak:  Deep yellow to yellow with orange tint

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments:  Dimorphous with arzakite; slowly darkens on exposure to brown-orange, then black

 

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